Effective Mentoring Across Differences–Best Practices and Effective Models to Address the Needs of Underrepresented Trainees in Surgical Residency Programs

• Published in: Journal of surgical education 2023-09, Vol.80 (9), p.1242-1252
• Main Authors: Rasic, Gordana, Morris-Wiseman, Lilah F., Ortega, Gezzer, Dent, Daniel, Nfonsam, Valentine, Arora, Tania K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACGME core competency: Professionalism; diversity equity and inclusion; LGBTQ; mentorship; residency programs; underrepresented in medicine
• ISSN: 1931-7204; 1878-7452
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2023.06.022

•Mentorship is critical in surgical training and practice.•Underrepresented resident (UR) mentees have unique needs for support.•Mentors of UR mentees must be aware of the setting they practice in.•Effective models of mentoring can address challenges in mentoring across diversity.•Mentors and their institutions can adopt practices to improve UR mentorship. Mentorship plays a critical role in the career development of surgical trainees and faculty. As the surgical workforce continues to diversify, mentoring trainees who differ) race, ethnicity, country of origin, socioeconomic status, educational background, religion, gender, sexual orientation or ability) can pose challenges to the experience for both mentor and mentee. The aim of this manuscript is to introduce surgical educators to the systemic barriers faced by trainees and to models of effective mentorship. At the 2022 APDS Meeting, a panel convened to highlight the current challenges of mentoring across differences and effective models for surgical educators. This paper highlights and expands the summary of this panel. Examples of novel mentoring models are described. Acknowledgment of barriers, Implementation of deliberate mentoring strategies, and collaboration with national surgical organizations and surgery departments and faculty may help to reduce physician attrition.